Improvement in heel-stiffeners for boots and shoes



D. ALMY. HEEL-STIFFENERS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

No. 194,397. Patented Aug. 21,1877.

WINEiSSES H'NV-VENTOH or other lining of the boot or shoe.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DARWIN ALMY, OF BRISTOL, RHODE ISLAND.

IMPROVEMENT IN HEEL-STIFFENERS FOR BOOTS AND SHOES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 194,397, dated August 21, 1877; application filed May 17, 1877.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DARWIN ALMY, of Bristol, in the county of Bristol and State of Rhode Island, have invented new and useful Improvements in Heel-Guards; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved heel-guard arranged to be inserted in a boot or shoe. Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a rubber boot provided with my metallic heelguard, and shows the manner in which the same may be secured.

The invention has reference to an inner metallic lining placed at the heel of a boot or shoe, so as to form a receptacle for the heel of the foot, prevent the sock or stocking from wearing, and stiffen the heel of the boot or shoe; and, also, to a metallic lining placed within the heel of a rubber boot or shoe, and secured to the same, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, a a is the metallic heel-box, which may be forced into a boot or shoe, and, if made of the proper size and form, will be firmly retained therein. It is made of light brass or other suitable metal, and will materially stifl'en the heel of the boot or shoe. Being hard and smooth, the heel will rest firmly, and the stocking or sock will not wear by the usual friction of the same against the leather It also protects the heel from contact with the seam frequently placed at this portion of the shoe.

Rubber boots or shoes are usually lined with coarse flannel, and the friction between the stocking and the lining causes rapid wear of the same. Rubber shoes are also usually lined with coarse material, and, when used as overshoes, seriously injure the boot or shoe worn within the same. Any material placed within a rubber boot or shoe must be able to withstand the heat required to vulcanize the same without change or injury.

The bootd(shown in Fig. 2) is supplied witha metallic heelguard, b, provided with theprongs c c c, by which it is secured to the lining of the boot or shoe before said lining is secured to the other rubber portion, and the metallic heelguard can be subjected to the. heat required without injury.

The metallic heel forms a smooth interior for the boot or shoe and strengthens the heel. The sock or stocking is not worn by friction, the heel is perfectly protected, and the whole forms a superior boot or shoe, whether all or a part is made of rubber or leather.

Boots and shoes provided with my metallic heel-lining form a superior and new article of manufacture.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. The metallic heel-guard, arranged to form the sides and bottom lining of a boot or shoe at the heel, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the heel-guard b, of the prongs c c 0, adapted to secure the heelguard to the boot or shoe, was to form an interior lining of the same at the heel.

DARWIN ALMY.

Witnesses:

J OSEPH A. MILLER, Amos A. WHITE. 

